Governance and Human Security in Post-Earthquake Haiti

In the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti, thousands of international agencies have poured assistance to the country. While this generosity is welcome, significant services — security, healthcare, education, welfare and social services — once seen as integral to the public sector, are now provided by a vast fragmented, privatized and globalized complex of UN agencies, NGOs, bilateral donors, commercial companies and foreign militaries.

While this has little directly to do with mine action, the way in which aid is being organized by public-private complexes mirrors my findings in my landmine clearance research, recently released in my new bookForeign Aid and Landmine Clearance.